More money for schools, but how?

Updated 9:58 pm, Wednesday, February 6, 2013

HARTFORD -- It was not Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's pledge to continue the momentum of his education reform agenda by upping the state's contribution to both traditional schools and public schools of choice that had some lawmakers worried Wednesday.

It was how Malloy plans to pay for it.

Malloy plans to boost the state's Education Cost Sharing grant by nearly $102 million over the next two years, as well as provide funding to open four new charter schools, increase magnet school enrollment by 10,445 and allow 1,300 more students to attend school out of district to improve racial balance.

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Educational impact of Governor's budgetHere are some highlights:Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funding over the biennium: $102 millionFunding for four new charter schools, one in the first year at $1.8 million and three in the second year at $8.4 millionFunding for five local charter schools, two in the first year and three more in the second year Funding to add 784 new seats in an inter-district open choice programFunding to add 10,455 new seats in magnet schools including 2,860 in new schoolsCreation of the Office of Early Childhood EducationExpand Commissioner's Network of schools from four to 12 in 2013-14 and to 21 by 2014-15Combines separate state scholarship programs for public and private colleges into one Governor's Scholarship Program

In all, his new initiatives would cost $119.5 million next year and would rise to $215.2 million by 2014-15, according to the governor's office.

In his budget address, Malloy called his education investments over the past year and moving forward -- "historic."

"Finally we have a plan in place and a destination in mind," Malloy said.

At the same time Malloy would increase funding to ECS, and focused efforts to improve student performance in high poverty areas like Bridgeport, his budget plan would eliminate $79.7 million in school transportation funding and replace it with a $5 million competitive grant to districts that regionalize transportation.

The governor also wants to require cities and towns to use a $75 million Payments in Lieu of Taxes grant "which they receive for state-owned properties" -- on education costs. The fund is now unrestricted.

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said he is greatly concerned by a proposed loss of not only the so-called PILOT funds, which amounts to about $2.8 million, but also the potential loss of $7 million in Pequot Revenue and $17 million in automobile tax.

"If these cuts are implemented in full there would be disastrous consequences for our residents and potentially one of the largest local tax increases ever as the state tax burden shifts to our residents," said Finch.

Republican legislative leaders are also concerned.

State Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield, who is planning a run for governor, called the budget a shell game and full of gimmicks.

"More education funding is not a bad thing, but if to do that you have to raise property taxes, where does that get us," McKinney said.

Rep. Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said increasing the state's ECS funding for education is a wonderful concept.

"But to take money from the city and put into education and say you increased spending. Tell me what that accomplishes?" Cafero said.

State budget chief Benjamin Barnes, in contrast, called the budget brutally honest. He said the pilot grant districts would have to spend on education could be part of the municipality's minimum budget commitment toward education, so could have no impact on local spending habits.

Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams would work with the governor to see if the plan is affordable.

"We support additions to the ECS formula," said Williams. At the same time he is not sure municipalities anticipated an increase. In this fiscal climate, Williams said they probably expected nothing more than to be held harmless.

State Rep Andrew Fleischmann, co-chairman of the education committee, said in broad strokes he is strongly supportive of the governor's proposal. He singled out a proposal to consolidate state early childhood education efforts into a single office instead of five as important.

In the area of higher education, Malloy's plan consolidates several separate state scholarship programs for public and private colleges into one Governor's Scholarship Program.

He also wants to borrow $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to boost science and technology programs at the University of Connecticut.

In Storrs, it would allow for more than 5,000 additional students, including a 70 percent increase in the number of engineering students. In Stamford, it would help create a one-of-a-kind digital media degree to help students land jobs at ESPN or other companies, Malloy said.

Malloy's plan would also give charter schools new money. The per pupil allotment would go up to $10,500 in the first year and $11,000 in the second. There would also be $8.4 million to open up to four new charter schools including one next fall.

Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor said among 25 letters of interest submitted to the state Department of Education last month most, but not all, say they want to open charter schools in the second year.